3001 St. Rose Pkwy.
Henderson, NV 89052
direct 702.616.5000
fax 702.616.5511
strosehospitals.org
Testimony in Support of AB 113
February 27, 2017
Dear Chairman Sprinkle and Assembly Health and Human Services Committee Members:
On behalf of our three hospitals in Nevada, Dignity Health-St. Rose Dominican would like to
formally support AB 113, which requires public and private employers to provide a clean,
private place for their employees to breastfeed, along with mandated breaks and certain
protections for the employee that does breastfeed. St. Rose is the only hospital system in
southern Nevada whose hospitals have been designated Baby-Friendly by the World Health
Organization and UNICEF, and we believe there is nothing healthier a mother can do for their
baby than breastfeed.
According to Baby-Friendly, USA, breastfeeding offers an unmatched beginning for children.
Providing infants with human milk gives them the most complete nutrition possible. Human
milk provides the optimal mix of nutrients and antibodies necessary for each baby to thrive.
Scientific studies have shown us that breastfed children have far fewer and less serious illnesses
than those who never receive breast milk, including a reduced risk of SIDS, childhood cancers,
and diabetes.
And similarly, mothers are healthier when they breastfeed. Recent studies show that women
who breastfeed enjoy decreased risks of breast and ovarian cancer, anemia, and osteoporosis.
They are empowered by their ability to provide complete nourishment for their babies. Both
mother and baby enjoy the emotional benefits of the very special and close relationship formed
through breastfeeding.
Because we understand how important breastfeeding is, our San Martín and Siena campuses
both became Baby-Friendly in the last couple years. The requirements include:
1. Have a written breastfeeding policy that is routinely communicated to all health care
staff.
2. Train all health care staff in the skills necessary to implement this policy.
3. Inform all pregnant women about the benefits and management of breastfeeding.
4. Help mothers initiate breastfeeding within one hour of birth.
5. Show mothers how to breastfeed and how to maintain lactation, even if they are
separated from their infants.
6. Give infants no food or drink other than breast-milk, unless medically indicated.
7. Practice rooming in - allow mothers and infants to remain together 24 hours a day.
8. Encourage breastfeeding on demand.
9. Give no pacifiers or artificial nipples to breastfeeding infants.
Assembly Committee: Health and Human Services
Exhibit: E Page 1 of 2
Date: 02/27/2017
Submitted by: Suzie Owens
10. Foster the establishment of breastfeeding support groups and refer mothers to them on
discharge from the hospital or birth center.
We have board-certified lactation consultants at our San Martín and Siena campuses and at our
WomensCare Centers of Excellence to help new moms with the process, along with education
on why it’s so important. St. Rose is also the only hospital system in southern Nevada that
offers banked donor human milk to our neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) patients from the
Mothers’ Milk Bank in San Jose, CA.
And there’s a reason that employers should care about breastfeeding, too. According to Loving
Support, when employees continue breastfeeding after returning to work, there are many
benefits to the employer:
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•
•
•
Financial value: 3 to 1 return on investment, primarily due to reduced cost of health
care. 1 Parental absenteeism is three times higher for formula-fed infants as compared to
breastfed babies. 2
Retain employees: Employees who feel supported in their decision to breastfeed report
higher job satisfaction – resulting in less turnover of skilled employees and higher
morale. 3
Enhanced recruitment: Employers who support breastfeeding have added recruitment
incentives for families as well as a positive image in the community
Healthier babies: Breastfed babies are less likely to get ear infections, diarrhea,
respiratory diseases, asthma, and other common childhood illnesses. Breastfed babies
have reduced risk of obesity and diabetes as children and adults. In addition, health care
costs are significantly lower for breastfed infants. 4
Once again, we feel very strongly that employers should give their staff the proper breaks and
safe atmosphere to allow for them to do the best thing for their babies and themselves. Please
vote yes on AB 113.
Sincerely,
Holly Lyman
Director, WomensCare Centers of Excellence
Dignity Health-St. Rose Dominican
1
Suzie Owens, IBCLC
Lead Lactation Consultant
Dignity Health-St. Rose Dominican
United States Breastfeeding Committee. Workplace Accommodations to Support and Protect Breastfeeding.
Washington, DC: United States Breastfeeding Committee; 2010.
2
Cohen, R. Mrtek, MB, Mrtek RG. American Journal of Heatlh Promotion 1995; 10:148-5
3
United States Breastfeeding Committee. Workplace Accommodations to Support and Protect Breastfeeding.
Washington, DC: United States Breastfeeding Committee; 2010.
4
Bartick M, Reinhold A. The burden of suboptimal breastfeeding in the United States: a pediatric cost analysis.
Pediatrics. 2010;125(5):e1048-56.
E-2